One Thing Different

By Emma Finn

“ROMPS ALONG AT A TIDY RATE”

Have you ever wondered what your life might have been like if just one thing had been different; if you hadn’t got the break you needed; if you’d gone out with someone other than your wife or husband? Have you ever regretted a missed opportunity and wished you could go back and change things? Or perhaps everything is good for you and the idea of anything in your past being altered fills you with fear?

Because little things can have huge consequences. Change one detail and your life might have taken a different path. You might not even recognise yourself. You could be living an entirely different life, for better... or for worse.

Kim, Gemma, Samantha, Anna and Christina are five beautiful women who have landed on their feet, with high profile jobs or wealthy husbands. Drunk on wine and candlelight, the friends share an evening, imagining how different their lives could have been if only a single change were made, but there is magic in the air and sometimes careless words can have powerful consequences.

One by one, the women find their lives starting to change, but the outcome of these changes is far more transformative than they ever imagined. As their destinies are rewoven it becomes apparent that if they don’t move quickly it may be far too late to put things back how they were.

“I REALLY LOVE THESE STORIES”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emma Finn
• Release date: Dec 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781505537512

Emma Finn

Emma Finn is an exciting and prolific author who has been publishing popular stories online for years. She releases a new book every one to two months right here and posts new chapters free online every day on: http://transformation-stories.blogspot.co.uk/ & http://emma-finn-thrillers.blogspot.co.uk/

Book preview

Dark Tales of Transformation

One Thing Different

Emma Finn

First published 14th December 2014

Special thanks to the wonderful Sally Grant for her editorial assistance

First Edition

Copyright Emma Finn 2014

Published at Smashwords

Contents

Nockton Vale Map

Prologue

Samantha

Christina

Kim

Anna

Gemma

Afterword

Coming Soon!

PROLOGUE

1

All five women had been lucky in life. Decisions made had been for the best all round. At each critical junction they had chosen the path that led to riches, beauty and fortune in love. And now, at thirty two, they had earned the right to sit back and enjoy it.

Gemma and Kim were blondes working in the fashion trade - Gemma as a designer, Kim as a model. A brunette, Samantha managed one of a chain of BMW showrooms and was on the fast track to taking on a role at head office with twice the pay. Anna was a redhead married to the wealthiest man in the county and Christina was the television presenter of a game show and a documentary series. She was a striking Asian.

Each one of them were friends because of their looks and contacts and the round of social contacts they shared. Each was slim and gorgeous - perfect figures honed by effort or carved by a surgeon’s scalpel.

Each had a perfect life.

And everything to lose…

2

Gemma grinned, holding up the tray in front of her as she re-entered the lounge.

This is it girls. You’re going to love it.

The others looked round at her, Kim and Sam craning over the back of her leather sofa, Anna glancing up from the open copy of Cosmo propped on her knees where she was sitting on one of the matching armchairs. Christina was making herself a drink. She cocked her head and said in perfect English, at odds with her Japanese ancestry, What have you found this time Gemma?

Gemma reached for the cloth that concealed what she’d bought. It’s a real beauty. And it only cost me four hundred and fifty. She whipped the cloth away with a flourish.

There was only candlelight in the room, barely making a dome of light half way to the towering ceiling. The other four women squinted in the gloom at what was revealed. Gemma stepped closer, lowering the tray to give a better angle of view and didn’t let herself feel disappointed at the looks of disgust on more than one face.

What’s it supposed to be? asked Samantha.

I can answer that, said Kim, It’s a piece of junk.

Very funny, said Gemma, popping the tray down on the coffee table.

Sam reached across and picked it up. A statue? Gemma nodded. Of what?

I don’t know. But I like it. She sat on the arm of the sofa.

It isn’t human, said Anna, whatever it is.

There’s an engraving on it that I fell in love with.

Christina walked back into the circle of light with her drink. The number of trinkets that you fall in love with, you’re going to fill this whole house.

Kim leaned over Samantha. What does the engraving say?

Get out of my light and I’ll tell you.

Kim groaned and leaned back, crossing her arm. I’m not interested anyway.

It says, began Samantha.

What changes could be wrought on your life, cut in Gemma, if only one thing had been different.

There was a pause. Nobody spoke for a moment.

Then Kim broke the spell by saying Nothing but a piece of junk.

It’s not! said Gemma, snatching it back. I think it’s beautiful!

You’d think a severed head was beautiful; if it cost enough, said Christina, sitting in the other free armchair and crossing her legs.

And that would be nicer to look at than this monstrosity, grumbled Kim.

No! You lot are missing the point! said Gemma, exasperated. I admit it isn’t the prettiest thing I’ve ever brought home but that inscription called out to me. I knew we were meeting up tonight for drinks and I thought it would be a nice thing for us all to talk about.

What did it say again?

I thought it might help us to appreciate what we have.

Appreciate what we have, echoed Christina.

Yes. Gemma stood up and walked away from them then turned sharply back and pointed at Christina. You. Chrissy.

What?

Think about what you do - about all your success. You should appreciate it.

I do.

No. I mean really appreciate it! Like it says on the statue! Think how different your life would have been if only one detail had been different.

What do you mean?

You’re a household name. People recognise you in the street and ask you for your autograph. Like all of us, you’re rich. What if you hadn’t attended the audition that gave you your big break? What if you’d had a cold that day?

I didn’t have a cold.

Gemma sighed. But what if you had? You wouldn’t be a TV presenter now, would you? You’d be a nobody.

Christina shrugged. I suppose so.

Gemma smiled, holding out the statuette toward Christina. That’s what I’m talking about. I saw the inscription on this ugly little thing and it made me think about what I had and how easily I could have ended up with a lot less if I’d not been so lucky.

I tell you what would have changed my life beyond all recognition, said Christina, taking the statue. She looked into the middle distance, lost in thought. If my parents hadn’t moved from Japan when they did. If they’d only brought me over here recently. She shivered. What a horrible thought.

Are you cold?

I’m okay, said Chistina, passing the statuette on to Kim, I just felt a chill.

One of the candles has blown out, said Anna, not looking up from her magazine. Maybe there’s a window open.

There shouldn’t be, said Gemma. She sat down on the arm of the sofa again.

Kim scrutinised where the face of the statue should have been if it had been human. I’ll tell you what would have set my life on a different course and no mistake, she said, not lifting her eyes from the smooth carved stone. If my aunt hadn’t died.

Your aunt?

Yup. My aunt. She looked up at the others. I used to be pretty chubby when I was a teenager. Not like I am now.

Fat? You?

Not fat. Chubby. But definitely not model material. My mum wanted me to go on diets. She pushed me all the time but I was quite happy. And I couldn’t be bothered to go to all that effort to lose weight.

Anna said, How did your aunt come into it?

She was fat. Very fat. Enormous. I used to walk with her down the street and listen to the kids making nasty comments about her she couldn’t hear. I watched her growing old and lonely because she couldn’t get a man, she was so obese. And then she died of a heart attack. She died alone. And I started dieting before the funeral. I vowed I was never going to become like her. I was going to be beautiful.

The glow of the candles flickered, moving the pockets of shadow on the statuette’s torso, seeming to animate it. Gemma got to her feet. I think there may be a window open after all. She walked toward the archway into the hall. Another candle’s blown out.

3

There were no windows open. There shouldn’t have been a breeze. But nevertheless, goose bumps were raised on Gemma’s slim shoulders as she walked back through to the lounge and another candle was out. There were only two left burning.

Anna was passing the statuette to Samantha.

Did I miss anything?

Kim groaned. Only Anna droning on about how lucky she was to have married the richest man in the world.

In the county, corrected Anna.

What did you say would have made your life different? asked Gemma.

It doesn’t matter. It was silly.

Not to mention offensive, said Kim.

I didn’t mean it like that, whined Anna, I just said what I thought.

I’ll tell you what could have made my life different, said Samantha, cutting over the top of them. A whole lot better than it is now.

What?

She smiled devilishly. If I’d slept with my boss when I’d had the chance.

The others laughed. You slut! said Gemma.

I’m serious.

Anna threw a cushion at her.

"Careful of my